Tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson has revealed that he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG), an incurable autoimmune condition that attacks the stomach lining and can lead to nutrient deficiencies, anaemia and an increased risk of stomach cancer.
Johnson, who reportedly spends more than $1 million annually on his longevity programme, disclosed the diagnosis in a social media post, saying the condition was confirmed following a series of medical tests. “My stomach is eating itself.” The 48-year-old said he discovered the condition in May after undergoing extensive investigations to determine the cause of persistently low ferritin levels, a protein responsible for storing iron. “I’m unsure how long I’ve had it.”
According to Johnson, he had experienced unexplained low ferritin levels for more than a decade without developing anaemia. Further testing revealed elevated anti-parietal cell antibodies, while a stomach biopsy confirmed the early stages of autoimmune gastritis.
Johnson said he had previously been diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 21 and had managed the condition for nearly three decades. Autoimmune gastritis is known to occur more frequently in people with other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease.
The entrepreneur believes the condition may have been developing for years but went undetected because its symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, iron deficiency and unexplained weight loss, can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses.
Despite the diagnosis, Johnson said he intends to challenge conventional treatment approaches. “When AIG is discovered today, standard medical care concedes defeat, stating that nothing can be done except managing the condition, no matter how awful or lethal the effects.”
He said his medical team plans to closely monitor his iron levels and other biological markers while conducting further research into the disease. “There’s no approved cure for autoimmune gastritis today.”
Johnson added that he hopes advances in artificial intelligence, genomics and biotechnology could eventually lead to new treatment options. “In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins, and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today’s stack.”
The Silicon Valley entrepreneur rose to global prominence through his ambitious anti-ageing programme, which includes an intensive diet, exercise regimen and frequent medical testing aimed at slowing the ageing process. He also featured in the Netflix documentary Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, which chronicled his pursuit of extending human lifespan.
Reaffirming his long-term goal, Johnson wrote in a separate post: “I don’t intend to live a little. I intend to live more than any human who has yet lived and invite you to join.”
